Best Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents

Pros

• Cleans effectively on regular and tough stains, including old set-in stains when pretreated.
• Leaves no scent on clothes after washing, which is consistently noted as a positive.
• Dissolves well in HE washers on cold or eco cycles without issues.
• A bag lasts a long time; multiple people report 3+ months of use since only a small scoop is needed per load.
• Powder format is straightforward to dose and use in the drum before adding clothes.

Cons

• Cost per load is noticeably higher than comparable products, roughly 50 cents versus 20 to 30 cents for alternatives.
• The powder itself has a noticeable smell when pouring, though it doesn't transfer to clothes.
• Using it as a stain pretreater directly on fabric is messy compared to using it in the wash.

Pros

• Cleans clothes well, even for people who found other detergents ineffective.
• Virtually no scent during washing or on dried clothes, which is a plus for people sensitive to fragrances.
• Pods dissolve fully and leave no residue on clothes or in the machine.
• The lemongrass variant has a mild, light scent that people found pleasant rather than overpowering.

Cons

• Pods frequently arrive broken open inside the container, wasting product and creating a mess; this is a recurring issue across many orders.
• The pod casing occasionally doesn't fully dissolve, leaving a sticky residue on clothing that requires a rewash.
• Cost per load is high, especially when factoring in wasted product from broken pods.

Pros

• Only needs a very small scoop per load, so the bag lasts a long time.
• Dissolves well in cold water for top-loading machines without leaving residue on clothes.
• Clothes come out smelling fresh and clean without any detergent fragrance lingering.

Cons

• Struggles with tougher stains like dirt, grease, and sweat; multiple people needed pre-treating or extra scoops.
• The powder can clump and harden in front-loader dispensers, requiring pre-dissolving before use.
• The bag is not resealable, so you need to transfer the powder to a separate container.

Pros

• Gets stains out of rags, mop pads, and everyday clothes as well as mainstream detergents, which is unusual for a natural formula.
• Leaves no residue on fabric, and whites stopped yellowing for at least one person.
• Works well in both cold and warm water cycles, including HE machines.
• Clothes come out noticeably soft, especially delicates and hand-wash items.
• Simple to use with no extra prep; the concentrated formula means you only need about 1 oz per medium load.

Cons

• The scented versions are polarizing; one person found the eucalyptus smell terrible, while others loved it.
• For a household of three, a 64 oz bottle lasted only about two months, which feels short given the higher price point.
• A couple of people noted it handles lightly soiled loads well but may need a booster for heavily soiled laundry.

Pros

• Cleans effectively for everyday laundry, including greasy mechanic clothes.
• Simple to use: just drop a tablet in the drum with no measuring.
• Several people noticed less static cling, reducing the need for dryer sheets.
• The fragrance-free version has virtually no scent, and the scented version carries a noticeable but not overpowering smell on finished laundry.

Cons

• Tablets sometimes don't fully dissolve, especially in cold water or shorter cycles, leaving residue or particles on clothes.
• A significant number of tablets can arrive broken or crumbled during shipping.
• One person reported a scummy buildup ring inside the washer after extended use.
• The Spring Bloom scent is polarizing; a few people found it overwhelmingly strong straight out of the bag.

Pros

• Dissolves well in cold water for most people and doesn't leave gritty residue on fabrics or in the washer.
• Cleans effectively for everyday loads, including heavily soiled work and play clothes when using an extra scoop.
• Clothes come out feeling fresh and clean without a lingering artificial fragrance.
• The bag lasts a long time since each load only needs one to two scoops.
• Leaves clothes and sheets feeling soft with no soapy buildup in the fabric.

Cons

• Not strong on stains; you'll likely need to pre-treat anything beyond everyday dirt.
• The lavender scent is very strong in the bag but doesn't carry through to the finished laundry.
• A few people found that the powder didn't fully dissolve, leaving residue in the machine or on clothes, particularly with hard water or certain washer setups.
• Clothes may start to feel less soft or look faded after extended use, according to a few people.

Pros

• Handles heavy-duty dirt well; one person who works construction found it matched big-name liquid detergents.
• Clothes come out noticeably softer without needing a separate fabric softener.
• The powder is concentrated, so a single tablespoon covers a normal load and the container lasts a long time.
• Reduced persistent odor in a front-loading washer where other detergents hadn't helped, according to the most-upvoted review.
• Takes up very little storage space compared to liquid detergent bottles.

Cons

• The powder doesn't fully dissolve for some people, leaving granules or white residue on clothes regardless of water temperature.
• The powder can cake up inside the container over time, requiring a few hard smacks to loosen it.
• Struggled with food stains and required double doses or rewashing in a few cases.

Pros

• Concentrated formula requires only a small amount per load, so the bottle lasts longer than its size suggests.
• Cleans effectively for everyday laundry, and multiple people noted it removed tough odors like cat urine completely.
• Scent is light and herbal rather than heavy or artificial, which works well for people who are sensitive to strong fragrances.

Cons

• Dispensing is a consistent pain point: pouring from the bottle is drippy, and the included silicone measuring cup gets lost in wet laundry or is cumbersome to rinse out.
• Several people reported faded or discolored fabrics after just a few washes, particularly on synthetics and colored items.
• Struggled with stain removal in multiple cases, including yellowing on sheets and set-in stains on polyester, even in warm or hot water.

Pros

• Cleans clothes effectively for everyday laundry loads.
• Scent is subtle enough to not linger on clothes, which people who dislike strong laundry fragrances appreciate.
• Concentrated formula means you use a small capful per load.
• Easy to pour and the bottle size isn't cumbersome, even with front-load machines.

Cons

• The formula is thin and watery, and multiple people noted it seems more diluted than it used to be.
• Scent barely transfers to finished laundry; even using extra product, some noticed almost no fragrance on clean clothes.
• A bottle runs out faster than expected; the stated load count may be optimistic, especially with larger or dirtier loads.
• Caps frequently arrive loose or broken, causing significant leakage during shipping.